Legends of Whisky: Emmanuel Dron

Emmanuel is a pioneer in the success Whisky has had in the last few years in Asia, he runs the fantastic Whisky Bar in Singapore “The Auld Alliance” and is a true expert on vintage whisky, many famous Asian collectors get advice from Emmanuel when it comes to drinking good stuff or building up their collections. Here is Ema….

Emmanuel Dron – (Courtesy HK.style)

1.YOUR LOVE FOR THE SPIRIT, HOW DID IT ALL START?

It started around 1994-5. I got for my birthday a bottle of Glenfiddich. I was not a whisky drinker at all. I liked it and I bought the Michael Jackson’s book to learn about whisky. Then I discovered a Jazz bar in my city Lille in the North of France which at that time had over 100 single malts. With my best friend, we went there for the next three months and tried them all. I took many tasting notes. Soon I was in London visiting Milroy’s shop where I tried my first Port Ellen. I was doing a civil service at that time to help blind people at University. It was my first contact with computer. Learning how to use WORD, I started a ten pages newsletter called “The Angel’s Share” end of 1996. I sent it to La Maison du Whisky in Paris which sold it to their shop at rue d’Anjou. Thierry Benitah contacted me few months later and asked me to join the company. I left it thirteen years alter in 2010 and created my own in Singapore, The Auld Alliance.

2. YOU’RE GOING TO A DESERT ISLAND, YOU CAN TAKE 3 BOTTLES WITH YOU…
Which ones will you take and what else (not bottles) would you take?

Laphroaig 1970 Samaroli

Ardbeg 1965 Cadenhead Tall Bottle White Label for Mizuhashi Japan

Glen Moray 1959 30 Years Old Duthies

My acoustic guitar Gibson Hummingbird

An IPod full of music with Solar batteries.

A Sea Dive Mask

3. Besides Whisky, what is your passion in life?

Music, Wine, Japan, Bar hopping

4. GIVE SOME ADVICE TO THE NEW COLLECTOR and DRINKER

Collect what you like. Try many many whiskies and focus on what you like. Most likely, don’t believe anything you will read on the leaflet given with your bottle. There is no Viking God who produced that whisky and that Rare Cask whisky it is in fact not rare.

5. WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE, if anything, in today’s whisky-world

I would change the craziness of nowadays prices. Five years ago, it was possible to open many great bottles at still fair prices. Today, it is almost impossible. Prices are crazy. Only few of us can afford those old legendary bottles.